Need Advice on Buying Resale then a Direct Add On

[WeLuvTink!]

Hey Everybody! Long time WDW visitor looking to finally jump into DVC. Looking at buying around 180 points on resale market at AKV. Do I understand correctly that once we're DVC owners, we could buy a small contract direct from Disney and become blue card eligible (annual pass discount, etc.)? And is the minimum add-on 25 points? Thank you DIS!

 

[ehh]

Hey Everybody! Long time WDW visitor looking to finally jump into DVC. Looking at buying around 180 points on resale market at AKV. Do I understand correctly that once we're DVC owners, we could buy a small contract direct from Disney and become blue card eligible (annual pass discount, etc.)? And is the minimum add-on 25 points? Thank you DIS!

Excluding grandfathered situations, blue card benefits currently require 150 direct points.

You could add on 25pts at some resorts (newer resorts have a 50pt minimum for add-ons), but only after accumulating 150 direct points would you be eligible for blue card.

 

[WeLuvTink!]

OK thanks for that quick response!

 

[aammtt20]

But even if you don't add on the full 150 direct points for blue card perks, it may still be worth it to do a small direct add-on just to have those points to book at the resale restricted resorts (Riviera, Cabins, DL Hotel, more in the future).

Right now I only have resale contracts, but I like to toy with the idea of doing a little 50 pt direct add on at some point, just to have the flexibility to know I can book at any resort, even though I still wouldn't have the membership perks. But I'm happy with my two resale contracts right now, and don't want to fork any of my money over to DVC just yet, but maybe in a few years down the line.

 

[CraigInPA]

@aammtt20 To be clear, since the OP is a prospective purchaser and may be unfamiliar, if you purchase a "small add on direct" contract at one of the original 14 resorts to gain access to Riviera and similarly restricted resorts, only the "small add on direct" points are usable at those restricted resorts. Your resale points, unless grandfathered, are ineligible.

 

[dvc lover 1970]

Almost correct. Once you purchase the resale contract, you can then add on direct in 25 to 50 point blocks, until you reach the required 150 direct points for the blue card.

 

[lilsonicfan]

But even if you don't add on the full 150 direct points for blue card perks, it may still be worth it to do a small direct add-on just to have those points to book at the resale restricted resorts (Riviera, Cabins, DL Hotel, more in the future).

Right now I only have resale contracts, but I like to toy with the idea of doing a little 50 pt direct add on at some point, just to have the flexibility to know I can book at any resort, even though I still wouldn't have the membership perks. But I'm happy with my two resale contracts right now, and don't want to fork any of my money over to DVC just yet, but maybe in a few years down the line.

This is an interesting thought, but for my family this would be maybe 1 night at Riv? LOL

 

[aammtt20]

This is an interesting thought, but for my family this would be maybe 1 night at Riv? LOL

True, it really depends on the needs on whom you're traveling with. Some will be good with a duo studio and some will need a two bedroom. Part of my thinking is... I wouldn't be using the Riv points every year, if I have resale points at other resorts, so with banking and borrowing I could have max 150 pts there at the same time. But you raise a good point, which is that for many families a 50pt contract probably won't fit their needs.

 

[NVDISFamily]

OP said they were looking into AKV as a home resort. Did you know that there is a good but not great direct special for AKV right now. The delta between member and non-member pricing for that deal is 10 dollars a point at 300 points so it's a 3000 dollar hit but in the grand scheme of things might be worth it to just jump in and get it going. Also, if you buy in and don't need those first year points and they are still doing the MB program, you might be able to sell those back and get your cost down another $20 per point. At that price you will still be paying thousands more than resale for AKV, but you have both the advantage of all points being direct so you can easily swap them into VDH, Riviera, and future restricted resorts. And if you buy the passes each year for many years that adds up.

Just something to consider....

 

[WeLuvTink!]

Thank you all for the great advice.